My “Big Jim” hatch chile plant isn’t looking very big yet. The Guizeppi Milds and California Wonders are doing a bit better. This was the first day I took them all outside for a few hours to start the hardening off process. I’ve had them inside with a fan and grow lights up until now.
I expected some flowering at this point, but it’s been stupidly cold and rainy here since I planted back in late March (I’m in 6a/6b), so maybe I’m expecting too much too soon? Next week is the first week it will in theory be above 55 degrees F overnight.
I’ve also been battling gnats (sticky traps and mosquito dunks for the win), which is weird to me because with the fan, the top layer of soil dries out pretty quickly, but I think I have them managed now.
My tip is to leave them outside permanently and cover them in 1-2 layers of frost cover fabric (no idea what it’s called in english, it’s thin and light and lets light through). Remove layers of fabric gradually while the plants acclimate.
This way you can keep them in full sun (they need lots of light now) without risk of burning them. Also you won’t have to constantly carry them around.